Women in Distress
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 | |
| Abbreviation | WiD |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1974[1] |
| Type | Domestic violence center |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3)[1] |
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
Region served | Broward County, Florida, United States |
President and CEO | Linda L. Parker, PhD[1] |
| Staff | 110[1] |
| Volunteers | 240[1] |
| Website | www |
Women in Distress (WID) is a nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center in Broward County, Florida.[2] WID adopts an empowerment based model.[3] WID provides victims of domestic violence with safe shelter, crisis intervention and resources, and raises community awareness through intervention, education and advocacy.[4] WID works in partnership with the Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO).[5][6] At a press conference in October 2009, Florida Governor Charlie Crist commended Women in Distress and Broward Sheriff's Office for their joint efforts to combat domestic violence. In 2021 Women In Distress (WID), CASA in Pinellas, and The Spring of Tampa combined efforts to form FLDVC after the coalition was shut down to the financial malfeasance of FCADV CEO Tiffany Carr. As the contractor, WID holds the contract for the statewide domestic violence hotline, which receives over 12,000 calls a year. CASA has the subcontract for training and technical assistance for the state, and The Spring has the contract for Legal services, which includes overseeing all of the Injunction for Protection Project, and the Legal hotline.
In 2018–2019, WID received 7,966 calls on their 24-hour crisis line.[7]
Women in Distress was established in 1972 as a nonprofit agency helping women in crisis, by feminist and women's rights activist Roxcy Bolton.[8]
In 1974,[1] Women in Distress of Broward County, Inc. was co-founded by Edee Greene. WiD's first refuge for homeless women was a donated four bedroom home. Eventually they opened their first crisis shelter, housing 12 homeless women. Following the murder of a client who had returned to her violent spouse to rejoin her children, further donations enabled the purchase of a 54-bed shelter, accommodating children of domestic violence victims and homeless women. In November 1995, the Jim and Jan Moran Family Center opened. In 1999 a $1 million endowment allowed WID to open a second 8-bed shelter in Hollywood.[4]
In 2008, WID expanded with the purchase of a 6-acre campus in Deerfield Beach.[9] The campus included a new Jim & Jan Moran Family Center, with 62 beds and has expanded to 135 beds.[10] Services at the center include crisis intake, individual and group counseling, parenting classes, and respite child care.[2][7] There is also a sub-station of the Broward Sheriff's Office on the site.[5]
In 2018, WID added a pet shelter to the campus so survivors do not have to leave beloved pets behind when they flee.